Discharge vacuum relief valve for safety vacuum release system

ABSTRACT

A discharge vacuum relief valve kit to provide vacuum relief for a SVRS pump in a hydraulic system is provided. The discharge vacuum relief valve kit includes a vacuum vent tube including a first end and a second end, a discharge vacuum relief valve coupled to the first end of the vacuum vent tube, and a vacuum vent screen coupled to the second end of the vacuum vent tube. The discharge vacuum relief valve is coupled to a drain plug opening of the SVRS pump.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/421,069 filed on Dec. 8, 2010, and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/314,798 filed on Dec. 8, 2011, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

In swimming pools and spas, safety vacuum release systems (SVRS) havebeen developed for the removal of suction in a line of the circulationsystem between the pump and a blocked outlet. SVRS devices can shut downthe pump when a blockage is detected at a pool drain and the suctionside of the pump in order to relieve suction and prevent bodyentrapment. If a check valve is installed on a discharge side of thecirculation system, for example to prevent the backflow of water, it canalso prevent or slow the relief of the suction. As a result, vacuumforces, such as those entrapping a swimmer against a drain of theswimming pool, may remain in place longer than current standards allow.In some swimming pools, the presence of a check valve can render an SVRSdevice ineffective.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments provide a discharge vacuum relief valve kit to providevacuum relief for a SVRS pump in a hydraulic system. The dischargevacuum relief valve kit includes a vacuum vent tube including a firstend and a second end, a discharge vacuum relief valve coupled to thefirst end of the vacuum vent tube, and a vacuum vent screen coupled tothe second end of the vacuum vent tube. The discharge vacuum reliefvalve is coupled to a drain plug opening of the SVRS pump.

Some embodiments provide a method of providing discharge vacuum relieffor a safety vacuum release system pump in a hydraulic system withdischarge check valves. The method includes the steps of providing adischarge vacuum relief valve kit including a vacuum vent tube with afirst end and a second end, a discharge vacuum relief valve coupled tothe first end of the vacuum vent tube, and a vacuum vent screen coupledto the second end of the vacuum vent tube. Input power to the safetyvacuum release system pump is monitored to detect a vacuum event on asuction side of the safety vacuum release system pump. The safety vacuumrelease system pump is shut down when the vacuum event is detected onthe suction side in order to relieve the vacuum event. Pressure ismonitored on a discharge side of the safety vacuum release system pumpand the discharge side of the safety vacuum release system pump isvented when a vacuum is detected on the discharge side to preventdelayed response time in relieving the vacuum event on the suction side.

Some embodiments provide a method of providing discharge vacuum relieffor a safety vacuum release system pump in a hydraulic system withdischarge check valves. A vacuum vent tube with a first end and a secondend is provided. A discharge vacuum relief valve is coupled to the firstend of the vacuum vent tube. The vacuum vent tube is routed upward fromits first end. A vacuum vent screen is coupled to the second end of thevacuum vent tube and the safety vacuum release system pump is ventedwhen a vacuum is detected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a hydraulic system with a discharge vacuumrelief valve according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a safety vacuum release system (SVRS)pump for use with the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a discharge vacuum relief valve kitcoupled to a SVRS pump according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a discharge vacuum relief valveaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the discharge vacuum reliefvalve of FIG. 4 coupled to a SVRS pump.

FIG. 6 is a discharge vacuum relief valve kit according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 7A-7C are front, side, and rear views, respectively, and exampledimensions of a discharge vacuum relief valve for use with the dischargevacuum relief valve kit of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8A-8C are perspective, side, and rear views, respectively, andexample dimensions of a vacuum vent screen for use with the dischargevacuum relief valve kit of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are graphs illustrating time and pressure measurementsof a SVRS pump with a discharge vacuum relief valve, in accordance withone embodiment of the invention, and a pump without a discharge vacuumrelief valve, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein ismeant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereofas well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, theterms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variationsthereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirectmountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected”and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connectionsor couplings.

The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in theart to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modificationsto the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles herein can be applied to otherembodiments and applications without departing from embodiments of theinvention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not intended to belimited to embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scopeconsistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. Thefollowing detailed description is to be read with reference to thefigures, in which like elements in different figures have like referencenumerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depictselected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope ofembodiments of the invention. Skilled artisans will recognize theexamples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall withinthe scope of embodiments of the invention.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a hydraulic system including apump with a SVRS, discharge check valves, and a discharge vacuum reliefvalve. The discharge vacuum relief valve can help prevent a vacuum on asuction side of the hydraulic system from being transferred to adischarge side of the hydraulic system, affecting the discharge checkvalves and interfering with suction relief generated by the SVRS. As aresult, the SVRS can react to suction events, such as body entrapment,virtually undisturbed by the presence of the discharge check valves.

FIG. 1 illustrates a hydraulic system 10 in which embodiments of theinvention can be used. The hydraulic system 10 can include a swimmingpool 12 and/or other water features, such as a waterfall 14. In someembodiments, the hydraulic system 10 can also include a spa (not shown).The hydraulic system 10 can include a main pump 16 and other componentssuch as a filter 18, a solar heating system 20 with a solar pump 22, aheater 24, a chlorine generator 26, a cleaner pump 28 for a pool cleaner30, a pool light 32, sensors 34, etc. A controller load center 36,including a wired control panel 38 and/or a wireless control panel 40and a wireless transceiver 42, can control the components of thehydraulic system 10. In other embodiments, the hydraulic system 10 caninclude more or less components than those shown in FIG. 1.

Water can be directed through the hydraulic system 10 by the pumps 16,22, 28 and a series of multi-port valves 44. For example, water can bedrained from the swimming pool 12 through a main drain 46 and/or askimmer 48, can be filtered, heated, and/or chlorinated, and thensupplied back to the swimming pool 12 through the pool cleaner 30,discharge outlets 50, and/or the waterfall 14. The hydraulic system 10can also include one or more discharge check valves 52 located at one ormore locations along a discharge side of the hydraulic system 10 (e.g.,on a discharge or pressure side of the main pump 16, as opposed to asupply or suction side). The discharge check valves 52 can prevent waterfrom draining from the plumbing and equipment located on the dischargeside of the hydraulic system 10. For example, the discharge check valve52 between the heater 24 and the chlorine generator 26 can prevent thebackflow of chlorine into the heater 24. In another example, thedischarge check valve 52 between the solar heating system 20 and theheater 24 can prevent the backflow of water into the solar heatingsystem 20 when it is not in use.

In some embodiments, the main pump 16 can be a variable speed, SVRS(SVRS) pump, as shown in FIG. 2. The main pump 16 can include a housing54, a variable speed motor 56, and an on-board controller 58. In oneembodiment, the motor 56 can be driven at four or more different speeds.The housing 54 can include an inlet 60, an outlet 62, one or more drainplugs 63, a basket 64, a lid 66, and a stand 68. The stand 68 cansupport the motor 56 and can be used to mount the main pump 16 on asuitable surface (not shown).

In some embodiments, the on-board controller 58 can be enclosed in acase 70. The case 70 can include a field wiring compartment 72 and acover 74. The cover 74 can be opened and closed to allow access to theon-board controller 58 and protect it from moisture, dust, and otherenvironmental influences. The case 70 can be mounted on the motor 56. Insome embodiments, the field wiring compartment 72 is capable of beingcoupled to a power supply to provide power to the motor 56 and theon-board controller 58.

In some embodiments, the motor 56 can include a coupling (not shown) toconnect to the on-board controller 58. In some embodiments, the on-boardcontroller 58 can automatically operate the main pump 16 according to atleast one schedule. In some embodiments, the on-board controller 58 canallow a manual operation of the main pump 16. For example, in someembodiments, the on-board controller 58 can include a manual override.The manual override can interrupt the scheduled and/or manual operationof the main pump 16 to allow for, e.g., cleaning and maintenanceprocedures.

In some embodiments, the on-board controller 58 can monitor theoperation of the main pump 16 and can indicate abnormal conditions ofthe main pump 16. For example, the on-board controller 58 (e.g.,internal software of the on-board controller 58) can include the SVRS inorder to stop or shut down the main pump 16 when a vacuum is detected(e.g., due to a blockage such as body entrapment) in order to relievethe vacuum. The SVRS can be used as a protective device to prevent abody entrapment event on suction fittings like the main drain 46 of theswimming pool 12 or a spa. In one embodiment, a vacuum event can bedetected by monitoring changes in input power to the motor 56.

In conventional hydraulic systems, when discharge check valves are usedin conjunction with a SVRS, they can reduce the reaction time on theSVRS to the point that the release system will not pass the closuretimes required by pool operating standards and regulations (i.e., thedischarge check valves can slow the response time of the SVRS). Forexample, a typical body entrapment event causes a vacuum level on thesuction side of the system to increase very quickly. That vacuum cantransfer into the pressure side of the system (i.e., the discharge side)and, when the system is equipped with discharge check valves, thatvacuum can increase the sealing force on the discharge check valves anddelay the SVRS from recognizing the presence of the body entrapmentevent and shutting down the pump to relieve the vacuum.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-7C, the hydraulic system10 can include a discharge vacuum relief valve 76. The discharge vacuumrelief valve 76 can allow the SVRS to function normally despite use ofthe discharge check valves 52 in the hydraulic system 10. The dischargevacuum relief valve 76 can be a vacuum sensing valve (e.g., aspring-loaded check valve) positioned on the discharge side of thehydraulic system 10. When the discharge vacuum relief valve 76recognizes a vacuum level, it can open (i.e., provide a vent) in orderto let air into the discharge side of the main pump 16, preventing thevacuum from transferring over to the discharge side and delayingdetection by the SVRS of the main pump 16. As a result, the SVRS canreact undisturbed by the presence of the discharge check valves 52 inthe hydraulic system 10.

In some embodiments as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the discharge vacuumrelief valve 76 can be coupled to a drain plug opening 78 of the mainpump 16 (e.g., by removing one of the drain plugs 63). The drain plugopening 78 and the discharge vacuum relief valve 76 can be coupledtogether via threading on the drain plug opening 78 and threading 75 (asshown in FIGS. 4 and 7B) on the discharge vacuum relief valve 76. Asshown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, a vacuum vent tube 80 can be coupled to anend 77 of the discharge vacuum relief valve 76 by a compression fit(e.g., with a compression fitting such as a collar 81, a metal ring, asleeve, or another suitable fitting). The vacuum vent tube 80 can berouted upward from its first end 79 coupled to the discharge vacuumrelief valve 76 so that its second, free end 81 is above all bodies ofwater connected to the main pump 16, as shown in FIG. 3, or at least sothat its free end 81 is above a maximum water level in all bodies ofwater in the hydraulic system 10. In addition, a vacuum vent screen 82can be coupled to the free end 81 of the vacuum vent tube 80 to protectthe discharge vacuum relief valve 76 and the vacuum vent tube 80 fromdirt, insects, and other contaminants that could interfere withoperation of the discharge vacuum relief valve 76.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the discharge vacuum reliefvalve 76, the vacuum vent tube 80, and the vacuum vent screen 82 can beprovided as a discharge vacuum relief kit 84 to be coupled to a SVRSpump 16 being installed in existing hydraulic systems 10 with dischargecheck valves 52. For example, in discharge vacuum relief kit 84 of FIG.6, the vacuum vent tube 80 can be a ⅜-inch thick tube, the vacuum reliefvalve can include the dimensions shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C, and thevacuum vent screen 82 can include the dimensions shown in FIGS. 8B and8C. In one embodiment, the vacuum vent screen 82 can include a polyvinylchloride (PVC) base 86 and a stainless steel mesh screen 88.

In some embodiments, characteristics of the discharge vacuum reliefvalve 76, such as allowed air flow (e.g., in cubic feet per minute) andpressure rating (e.g., in pounds per square inch) can be selected basedon the type of swimming pool and/or spa application or, more generally,on the types of bodies of water in the hydraulic system 10. In oneembodiment, the discharge vacuum relief valve 76 can have a pressurevent rating of about 1.5 pounds per square inch.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate discharge pressure and vacuum pressuremeasured in a SVRS pump 16 with a discharge vacuum relief valve 76 and aSVRS pump without a discharge vacuum relief valve, respectively. Asshown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a vacuum event occurs at time T1, causing boththe suction pressure and the discharge pressure to drop. As shown inFIG. 9A, the discharge vacuum relief valve 76 is triggered (i.e., aroundtime T2), relieving the vacuum and causing both the discharge pressureand the suction pressure to ramp upward to about zero. As shown in FIG.9B, without the presence of the discharge vacuum relieve valve 76, boththe discharge pressure and the suction pressure continue to stay in avacuum state (i.e., are maintained at negative pressures).

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while theinvention has been described above in connection with particularembodiments and examples, the invention is not necessarily so limited,and that numerous other embodiments, examples, uses, modifications anddepartures from the embodiments, examples and uses are intended to beencompassed by the claims attached hereto. The entire disclosure of eachpatent and publication cited herein is incorporated by reference, as ifeach such patent or publication were individually incorporated byreference herein. Various features and advantages of the invention areset forth in the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of providing discharge vacuumrelief for a safety vacuum release system pump in a hydraulic systemwith discharge check valves, the method comprising: providing adischarge vacuum relief valve kit including a vacuum vent tube with afirst end and a second end, a discharge vacuum relief valve coupled tothe first end of the vacuum vent tube, and a vacuum vent screen coupledto the second end of the vacuum vent tube; coupling the discharge vacuumrelief valve to a drain plug opening of the safety vacuum release systempump; monitoring input power to the safety vacuum release system pump todetect a vacuum event on a suction side of the safety vacuum releasesystem pump; shutting down the safety vacuum release system pump whenthe vacuum event is detected on the suction side in order to relieve thevacuum event; monitoring pressure on a discharge side of the safetyvacuum release system pump; and venting the discharge side of the safetyvacuum release system pump when a vacuum is detected on the dischargeside to prevent delayed response time in relieving the vacuum event onthe suction side.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising detectinga vacuum on the discharge side when the monitored pressure is about 1.5pounds per square inch.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprisingmonitoring the pressure with the discharge vacuum relief valve andopening the discharge vacuum relief valve when the vacuum is detected inorder to vent the discharge side.
 4. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising positioning a free end of the vacuum vent tube above allbodies of water in the hydraulic system.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the vacuum vent screen includes a polyvinyl chloride base and astainless steel mesh screen.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the stepof monitoring at least input power to the safety vacuum release systempump to detect a vacuum event includes monitoring a change in inputpower.
 7. A method of providing discharge vacuum relief for a safetyvacuum release system pump in a hydraulic system with discharge checkvalves, the method comprising: providing a vacuum vent tube with a firstend and a second, free end; coupling a discharge vacuum relief valve tothe first end of the vacuum vent tube; routing the vacuum vent tubeupward from its first end so that its second, free end is above amaximum water level in all bodies of water in the hydraulic system;coupling a vacuum vent screen to the second end of the vacuum vent tube;and venting the safety vacuum release system pump when a vacuum isdetected.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the discharge vacuum reliefvalve is coupled to the first end of the vacuum vent tube by acompression fit.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the vacuum vent tubeis routed upward from its first end so that its second end is above allbodies of water connected to the pump.
 10. The method of claim 7 furthercomprising coupling the discharge vacuum relief valve to a drain plugopening of the safety vacuum release system pump.
 11. The method ofclaim 7 further including the steps of monitoring input power to thesafety vacuum release system pump to detect a vacuum event on a suctionside of the safety vacuum release system pump, shutting down the safetyvacuum release system pump when the vacuum event is detected on thesuction side in order to relieve the vacuum event, monitoring pressureon a discharge side of the safety vacuum release system pump, andventing the discharge side of the safety vacuum release system pump whena vacuum is detected on the discharge side to prevent delayed responsetime in relieving the vacuum event on the suction side.
 12. The methodof claim 11, wherein the step of monitoring at least input power to thesafety vacuum release system pump to detect a vacuum event includesmonitoring a change in input power.
 13. A method of providing dischargevacuum relief for a safety vacuum release system pump in a hydraulicsystem with discharge check valves, the method comprising: providing avacuum vent tube with a first end, a second, free end, and a dischargevacuum relief valve coupled to the first end of the vacuum vent tube;routing the vacuum vent tube upward from its first end so that itssecond, free end is above a maximum water level in all bodies of waterin the hydraulic system; and venting the safety vacuum release systempump when a vacuum is detected.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein thedischarge vacuum relief valve is coupled to the first end of the vacuumvent tube by a compression fit.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein thevacuum vent tube is routed upward from its first end so that its secondend is above all bodies of water connected to the pump.
 16. The methodof claim 13, further comprising the step of coupling the dischargevacuum relief valve to a drain plug opening of the safety vacuum releasesystem pump.
 17. The method of claim 13, further including the steps ofmonitoring input power to the safety vacuum release system pump todetect a vacuum event on a suction side of the safety vacuum releasesystem pump, shutting down the safety vacuum release system pump whenthe vacuum event is detected on the suction side in order to relieve thevacuum event, monitoring pressure on a discharge side of the safetyvacuum release system pump, and venting the discharge side of the safetyvacuum release system pump when a vacuum is detected on the dischargeside to prevent delayed response time in relieving the vacuum event onthe suction side.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step ofmonitoring at least input power to the safety vacuum release system pumpto detect a vacuum event includes monitoring a change in input power.